Suggestions please! My adult son hardly sleeps at night at all.

April

I hope someone can help me. I am so tired through lack of sleep.

My adult son with cerebral palsy wakes about 2 or 3 times in the night wanting to use the urine bottle. I've tried everything...giving him some non-addictive pills from the doctor before he goes to sleep, making sure he restricts any late evening drinks, changing the timing of his drugs (for spasms) to see if that makes him more sleepy. 
He sleeps in his wheelchair during the day rather than sleeping at night. 

I am exhausted. Last night I had about 4 hours sleep. His bedroom is downstairs, so I have to go up and down the stairs throughout the night.
I'm very irritable during the day and I just don't know what to try next.

Has anyone else had this problem? 

woodbine

hi @April how are you this evening? tired by the sound of it? The only suggestion I can think of is the obvious one and thats to try and stop him from sleeping so much in the day so he's more tired at night.
I had a period when i was incontinent at night and the GP put me on some tablets to help stop it and I changed what I drank and when after 6pm.
The trouble is (and don't laugh) they had to put me on another tablet to make me pee during the day !

Cher_Scope

Hi @April

That sounds exhausting.  Are you coping okay?  It certainly would help if your son could stop sleeping in the day-time, has he ever tried adjusting his sleep pattern?

I'm going to tag in our wonderous @Richard_Scope who is the CP information specialist so he can offer some support.  And in the meantime, you can read some of Scope's 'Sleep tips for adults' to see if there is anything you can implement quickly that could make a difference.  

Best wishes and I hope you get a restful night soon.

April

@woodbine. Thanks for your reply. It made me smile  Yes, you're right we need to keep him awake in the daytime somehow. Not sure how to do that yet though 

April

@Cher_Scope Thank you for your help. I appreciate that. 

Richard_Scope

Hi @April
It must be exhausting for all of you! It sounds like your son's circadian rhythm is out of sink. People who work night shifts for a certain period and then are switched back to day shift experience this too.
It sounds as if you are addressing the main issues. No caffeine after 6 pm, No liquids after 7 pm and cut the use of devices such as Ipads etc before bed. It is also important for your son not to sleep during the day. This has to be phased out. 
Here are some more tips
Sleep Tips from MIND

April

@Richard_Scope. Thank you so much!